[TouchPad Development] mpgrimm2:
Basic CWM Recovery Info

CWM Recovery Backup, Format/Wipe, Restore, & Flash

: ! MAKE SURE YOU READ THE NOTES IN THE OP AT THE TOP FIRST !

You CAN get into RECOVERY by: pressing [pwr] and selecting "boot ClockworkMod" from the bootloader (Moboot) when powered off.

You CAN get into RECOVERY by: holding [pwr], selecting "Reboot", then "Recovery" from within CM9/10.

Sdcard/clockworkmod/ (This is the folder CWM Recovery creates/uses.)

________________ /backup (recovery's backup of /system, /data, /boot.img, etc. are saved here by date. You can edit the filename.)

________________ /download (If you use CWM Rom Manager, it will place its downloads here. I've never used it.)

After the device has a Custom recovery, the recovery can be used to

:

1) Flash/install .zip files:

- New/rooted kernels, including boot.img files (controls how the o.s. works with hardware)

- Roms (complete /system & /data file with kernel, custom apps, modded settings)

- Bootanimations (should be correct resolution)

- Other system improvements

- Themes (modify look of device/menus etc. Usually specific to each device (ie HP TP) & FW/Rom Base (ie CM9 vs CM10)

Must clear "dalvik cache" & may need to flash "deodexed template" or deodexed Rom, boot to system, before flashing each theme).

2) Make .tar(or dedup) backups of /system, /data, & /cache. Also backs up /boot ( boot.img or Kernel), and some versions may backup /recovery (recovery.img ), /wimax (wimax.img ) if available, that can be restored, usually together.

Note: Format the appropriate partition before restoring. (Usually format/wipe the first 3.)

It’s a good idea to make an initial backup right after you install the custom recovery. Then you can just format, restore the backup, if things get messed up.

3) Format/wipe the 3 main partitions and flash other partitions (depending on recovery version):

/system (o.s., system apps)

/data (google acct, app & phone settings, downloaded/installed apps)

/cache (used by o.s. to access info/apps, includes "/dalvik cache")

Android Partitions Explained

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Controls:

[ Vol Up/Dwn ] = move or highlight selection

[ Home ] = select item/option

Note: On CWM Touch versions HW controls may still work.

How to Flash a Zip (Generally):

Place the .zip on the SDcard (or Sdcard/zip or similar folder of your choice)

Boot to recovery.

-> WIPE CACHE (habit of mine)

-> INSTALL ZIP FROM SD CARD -> CHOOSE ZIP FROM SDCARD

(navigate to where the zip is and select it)

-> REBOOT SYSTEM NOW (may need to "Go Back" to get to reboot option)

How to flash a rom (Generally):

- Make a backup in recovery first (/system, /data, /cache, etc.)

- Format/wipe the 3 partitions as appropriate.

(some Rom zips will do this for you, but may require a specific recovery coding such as “Edify” in CWM).

- Flash the Rom.zip (and any supplements like Gapps)

- Reboot to system, let it load, Verify functions

How to flash a theme (Geneally):

- Go to recovery, Wipe " Dalvik Cache ",

- Flash the " Stock Deodex Template" or Deodexed Rom (Depending on your version)

- Reboot to system, let it load, Verify functions

- Go To recovery, ADVANCED, Wipe "dalvik Cache"

- Flash the theme you want, ie GreenSteel.zip

- Reboot to system, let it load, Verify functions

Note: Anytime you wipe cache/dalvik cache it will take longer to boot the first time (ie Android is Updating).

Back up & Restore your file system with CWM recovery (DETAILED)

1 - (Enter Recovery)

-> BACKUP AND RESTORE -> BACKUP (This will separately backup: boot.img, /system, /data, /cache, wimax.img, etc)

Note: If you prefer the dedupe (.dup) backup format over .tar (default) and want to change the setting,

go to -> CHOOSE DEFAULT BACKUP FORMAT (before creating your backups)

* NOTE: you can stop here if you just want a backup*

2- (Format Manually through Recovery)

-> WIPE DATA/FACTORY RESET ( this will format the DATA & CACHE partitions for you in one shot )

-> MOUNTS AND STORAGE -> FORMAT SYSTEM

-> FORMAT DATA (Optionally there if needed, i.e. to restore only data partition)

-> FORMAT CACHE (Optionally there if needed)

4- (Restore Manually through Recovery)

-> BACKUP AND RESTORE -> CHOOSE YOUR BACKUP

-> RESTORE (This will restore all parts of the backup: /system, /data, & /cache, /boot [ boot.img or Kernel], /recovery [recovery.img], /wimax [wimax.img], SD-EXT if setup )

Note: If there is more than one, the numbers are a date/time stamp (ie: 2012-02-16.06.14.40 is Feb.16, 2012 at 6:14AM), so choose the appropriate one.

I typically change the name later, ie: "2012-02-16 CM9andApps".

(9-14-13 edit: Changing the name in newer CWM recoveries may create "MD5 checksum" errors and prevent a restore. Needs verified).

4.1- ADVANCED OPTION (Restore portions of backups individually, typically used to restore /data after Rom Update)

-> ADVANCED RESTORE -> CHOOSE YOUR BACKUP IMAGE ( /system, /data, /cache, /boot, /recovery, /wimax, SD-EXT)

-> RESTORE

5- (Reboot)

-> REBOOT SYSTEM NOW (may need to "Go Back" to get to reboot option)